Five months after transplantation and follow-up treatment with immunosuppressant drugs, the uterus showed no sign of rejection. The fertilised eggs were implanted after seven months and, 10 days later, the recipient was confirmed to be pregnant.

A baby girl was born via caesarean section at 35 weeks and three days, weighing 2.55kg. The transplanted uterus was removed during the operation and showed no abnormalities.

At the age of seven months, the baby was still breastfeeding and weighed 7.2kg.

Infertility affects 10-15 per cent of couples seeking to start a family. Of this group, one in 500 women have uterine anomalies due to congenital factors, or through unexpected malformation, hysterectomy, or infection. Before the advent of uterus transplants, the only available options to have a child were adoption or surrogacy.

The first child born following uterine transplantation from a living donor occurred in Sweden in 2013. In total, there have been 39 procedures of this kind, resulting in 11 live births so far.

The study authors say transplants from deceased donors might have some benefits over donations from live donors, by removing surgical risks for a live donor. However, recipients would need to be healthy to avoid complications because major surgery is involved.